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My Europe – We must remain vigilant!

The year 2016 angered many. Now, as 2017 comes to a close, anger has given away to a sense of fatigue. DW guest columnist Krsto Lazarevic warns we've grown used to ubiquitous hatred. But there's still hope for 2018.

In 2016, a hateful man who talks like a surly seven-year-old was elected American president. That same year, frustrated Britons decided their country should leave the European Union – because many young, pro-European Britons had preferred to stay home rather than cast their vote in support of remaining in the bloc. Also in 2016, pop legend Prince passed away. Fittingly, comedian John Oliver opted to symbolically "blow up" the year 2016 in one of his sketches – to the tune of the European anthem. People from all over the world gave 2016 the finger.

2016 will be remembered as the year in which the so-called West screwed up in a big way, and entirely without reason for doing do.

There was no devastating economic crisis like in 1929 which might be blamed. Instead, in 2016, many people simply chose nationalist parochialism over cosmopolitanism. Not out of desperation, but because they enjoy lashing out against the weak.

2017 wasn't any better – but we've grown used to many things

Reflecting back on 2017 doesn't evoke the anger that 2016 did. Not because things have improved. But because we'vebegrudgingly come to accept that things won't be improving in the so-called Western world in the coming years, and that maintaining the status quo alone will be something of a success.

2017 resembles 1790, 1915 and 1969 in that it too is a year that follows a major historical turning point. But this year was far from uneventful.

According to Germany's Amadeu Antonio Foundation and the organization ProAsyl, over 1,700 attacks on refugees were reported in Germany over the course of 2017 – on average, that's more than four each day.

Convicted war criminals are celebrated

In Austria, former neo-Nazi Heinz-Christian Strache has just become the country's vice chancellor. When his party, the right-wing populist FPÖ, joined an Austrian coalition government back in 2000, the EU slapped sanctions on the country to express its disapproval. Yet in 2017, the response from European leaders is much more favorable. Austria's new chancellor, 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz, campaigned solely on closing the Balkan route to prevent further refugees reaching Austria.

Many Croats held memorial services and hailed Praljak as a hero after his dramatic suicide

In 2017, several convicted war criminals, including Slobodan Praljak, were publicly celebrated in a number of Balkan states. Praljak, incidentally, publically committed suicide by drinking poison in the courtroom after the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia announced its verdict. Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic criticized the court's verdicts against the war criminals, deeming them unfair.

At least 3,100 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean on their journey toward a better future

Europe shifts further right

Hungary's government, lead by Viktor Orban, has long discarded liberal European values. But unlike Poland, which is now paying the price for embarking on a similar course, Hungary has remained unscathed. This is because Orban's national conservative Fidesz party belongs to the European People's Party (EPP), an alliance of European center-right parties that encompasses Germany's CDU and CSU parties, as well as Austria's ÖVP party. Together, they have shielded Hungary from punishment.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Displaced

The dangerous journey across the Gulf of Bengal is behind her. This woman has escaped violence and oppression in her majority Buddhist homeland Myanmar. Like more than 600,000 other Muslim Rohingya, she fled to neighboring Bangladesh. The United Nations have spoken of their plight as "ethnic cleansing."

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Terrified

In the Iraqi city of Mosul, this father and his daughter are running from terror and violence. For more than three years, the so-called "Islamic State" had controlled their city, as well as of other areas in Iraq and Syria. In the following months, however, "Islamic State" lost ground and Iraqi government forces regained control of Mosul in July.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Ruthless

Despite continued international condemnations and sanctions, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continued to develop the country's missile capabilities in 2017. Pyongyang also launched its sixth and hitherto most powerful nuclear weapons test. Tensions between the US and North Korea intensified after a test showed that North Korean missiles could possibly reach the US mainland.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Relieved

The end of an era: In November, Robert Mugabe, 93, was forced to resign as President of Zimbabwe under pressure from the military as well as his party. Many MPs cheered his demise. The former national hero’s 37-year reign of brutality and autocratic control crumbled within days of a military takeover. Mugabe had ruled Zimbabwe since 1980.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Convicted

It's known as the worst war crime since World War II: In Srebrenica, Ratko Mladic and his soldiers murdered 8,000 Bosniaks, including the husbands and sons of the women pictured above. The women cheered when he was convicted. After hiding from the authorities for sixteen years, the International Criminal Court sentenced the former general to life in prison.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Rebellious

Venezuela's Socialist President Nicolas Maduro ordered the use of water cannons and violence to control the thousands of protesters who fought his authoritarian government in 2017. Venezuela is embroiled in a deep political and economic crisis. To consolidate his power, Maduro went as far as stripping the opposition-controlled National Assembly of its authority by creating a rival assembly.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Oppressed

The Russian opposition is back. Organized by opposition leader Alexei Navalny, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in various Russian cities to protest alleged corruption under President Vladimir Putin. The Russian police forcefully removed and arrested hundreds of protesters, such as in this photo taken in Moscow in March.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Bold

Actress Rose McGowan was among the first to publicly accuse Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault. The Weinstein scandal unleashed a wave of indignation and dismissals. Thousands of women and men across the world used the hashtag #MeToo to tell their stories of sexual harassment and abuse on social media.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

'Fake'

White House press secretary Sean Spicer accused journalists of "deliberate false reporting" on the number of visitors at President Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony in January — despite these photos, which suggest that considerably more people attended Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. This set off the first of many controversies of Trump's presidency in 2017.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Unwavering

It all started with American football player Colin Kaepernick and has turned into a movement: Like many others, the New England Patriots are taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racism in the US. Many think the move was unpatriotic and an act of resistance against US President Donald Trump — who reacted with outraged tweets and threats.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Hateful

A white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, escalates when a car driver plows into a crowd of counter protesters, killing one person. President Donald Trump reacts by talking about "violence on both sides" without specifically condemning the right-wing protesters. Immense public pressure and outrage forced him to backpedal on the statement.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Calm

British activist Saffiyah Khan left an impression on many when she stared down English Defence League (EDL) protester Ian Crossland. At a rally in Birmingham in the UK, Khan came to the aid of a woman wearing a headscarf who had been threatened by the right-wing demonstrators. The EDL is one of many anti-Muslim, right-wing organizations in Europe.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Independent?

Pro-unity protesters march through Barcelona in response to the illegal and controversial referendum on Catalan independence on October 1. Days before, the Spanish authorities had tried to stop the referendum, including through the use of police force. Again and again, thousands of pro and anti-independence protesters have flooded the streets.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Notable

The icebergs that pass through the "Iceberg Alley" in Canada are a tourist attraction — and a sign of how climate change is progressing. Even though they glide past Newfoundland's coast every year in spring, the icebergs are getting bigger, more numerous and arrive earlier in the year — trends that worry climate researchers.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Symbolic

It was the highlight of this year’s documenta 14 art festival in the central German town of Kassel: The "Parthenon of Books" by Argentinian artist Marta Minujin. The facade consisted of 67,000 books that were or are still banned somewhere in the world. The books were then distributed to the visitors. For the first time, documenta was held in Kassel and Athens simultaneously.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Costly

It is the highest price ever paid for a painting — Leonardo Da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi" was auctioned off for $450 million in New York. The painting is one of fewer than 20 known paintings by the artist. According to Christie’s auction house, the Ministry of Culture in Abu Dhabi was the buyer. "Salvator Mundi" will be exhibited in the new Louvre in Abu Dhabi.

The year 2017 in 17 pictures

Legendary

After winning the 100-meter final at the IAAF Championship in London, Justin Gatlin kneels in front of Jamaican star runner Usain Bolt, who ended his career in 2017 having won nine Olympic gold medals. Bolt is the only person to have run 100 meters in under 9.6 seconds. The Man United fan now fancies a career in soccer. He says some clubs have contacted him already — among them Borussia Dortmund.

Many who cherish open societies looked back on 2016 in anger. As 2017 draws to a close, many are left with a sense of fatigue: We've grown used to the fact that minorities' fundamental rights are being put into question.

We harbor fears which we talk about in private, yet barely ever get addressed on major political chat shows on TV. We worry that our liberties and rights could get curtailed. We worry that it'll become normal to lash at the weak. We worry about social decline. Yet none of these worries are taken up on big chat shows. Instead, most shows focus on peoples' "fear" of refugees and terrorism. A fear that in many cases simply stems from xenophobia.

Many self-professed critics of the present "asylum system" don't care if wealthy individuals move their riches to tax havens to avoid paying taxes. After the so-called Paradise Papers were released, revealing the extent of these practices, the subsequent outrage soon subsided. And yet, those who are overly concerned about asylum-seekers welcome that these individuals should hand over their few valuables upon arrival, as will soon be the case in Austria.

2017 was an exhausting year. But we must remain vigilant and protect the status quo from falling any further.

Finland, Malta and Germany have legalized same-sex marriage. And Austria's top court has ruled that the country's government must soon do the same. The viral #metoo campaign on social media helped end the careers of men who had abused their power to sexually harass others.

So there's a silver lining. 2018 could well be the year that the people stand up and take action against Europe's shift to the right.

Krsto Lazarevic was born in Bosnia-Herzegovina and fled to Germany with his family as a child. Today he lives in Berlin, where he works as a journalist and commentator, writing for various German-language media outlets.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

A collective stand against abuse

Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" is the most anticipated issue in the world of magazines. This year, the publication highlighted not a single person, but a whole movement of women and men who went public to share their experience with sexism and abuse. The accompanying hashtag #metoo sparked a debate about the social contract between the sexes.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

The Harvey Weinstein effect

It all started with Harvey Weinstein, the influential Hollywood producer, who has been accused of misconduct by numerous actresses and colleagues. The accusations set off an avalanche that decimated the reputation of many formerly respected artists, such as Kevin Spacey or the fashion photographer Terry Richardson.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

"Elphi" is here – finally!

In January, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall opened in Hamburg, Germany after years of delays. The building designed by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron should have been finished in 2010 for €77 million, but the final cost rose to €866 million ($1 billion). Since its opening, however, the beloved "Elphi" concert hall has been continuously sold out.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

German hopes for Academy Award

German director Fatih Akin's movie "Aus dem Nichts" ("In the Fade") about neo-Nazi terrorism has already won numerous prizes, including Best Actress for Diane Kruger in Cannes. The film will now go on to compete in the Foreign Film category at the Golden Globes in 2018 - which gives Akin good chances to get an Oscar nomination next year.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

A Golden Lion for Germany in Venice

A depressing five-hour-long performance on power and powerlessness, violence, resistance and freedom — that was "Faust," the opening act at the German pavilion at this year's Art Biennale in Venice. Designed by the Frankfurt artist Anne Imhof, it received the Golden Lion award for the Best National Contribution.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

When art goes bankrupt

As usual, the art festival Documenta 14 took place in Kassel, Germany. But for the first time ever, the organizers also set up shows in Athens, Greece. The remote event turned out to be a financial disaster as it consumed an enormous amount of money. In the end, the event went €7 million ($8.25 million) over budget and the parent company had to be saved by sponsors from looming bankruptcy.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

A record-setting love song

For the first time in history, a Portuguese artist won the Eurovision Song Contest. The 62nd edition of the beloved event took place in Kiev, Ukraine where Salvador Sobral was awarded the winning prize for his song "Amar pelos dois" ("Loving for Both of Us"), an expressive jazz waltz. Earning 758 points in total, the song set a new record at the competition.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

Ariana Grande's return to Manchester

On May 22, a homemade bomb was detonated as people were leaving the Manchester Arena after a concert by American singer Ariana Grande. The terror attack killed 23 people and injured more than 500. On June 4, Ariana Grande returned to Manchester with a benefit concert "One Love Manchester" that raised £10 million (€11.3 million) for the victims of the attack.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

Rock am Ring: the party is off

After the Manchester Arena bombing and the November 2015 Paris attacks at the Bataclan, cultural event organizers have been on constant alert. During this year's Rock am Ring at Germany's Nürburgring racetrack, a song by the German band Broilers was interrupted amid a terror warning, and 80,000 people were forced to leave the area. The festival resumed the next day.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

Jewish director stages Hitler's favorite opera

In his interpretation of Richard Wagner's "The Mastersingers of Nuremberg," Australian theater director Barrie Kosky addressed the difficult relationship between Bayreuth and Jews as he transformed Wagner's Wahnfried house into a courtroom of the Nuremberg Trials. "Wagner created his own hell. He's permanently in the witness box, and I am not sure if he can get out of it," said Kosky.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao turns 20

The Basque capital of Bilbao has been celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Guggenheim Museum all year. One night, the iconic building designed by Frank Gehry became a canvas for a gigantic light show. Today, Bilbao is a mecca for art lovers around the world that attracts more than a million visitors every year, with the Guggenheim having saved the once-thriving industrial city from decline.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

500 years of Reformation

According to legend, German theologian Martin Luther nailed his famous "Ninety-five Theses" to the door of All Saints' Church in the town of Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. Though this has been proven to be a myth the Ninety-five Theses, a list of propositions against the abusive practices of clergy addressed to the Archbishop of Mainz, challenged the Church and started the Reformation in Europe.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

A Da Vinci for 450 million dollars

In November, bidders fought ardently for 19 whole minutes to buy "Salvator Mundi," a newly-discovered painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. No one is entirely certain that the portrait of Jesus was actually painted by the Renaissance maestro, but the mystery shrouding the artwork only added to the hyped marketing campaign orchestrated by Christie's New York expert Loïc Gouzer.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

The record-breaking music release of the year

Taylor Swift's latest album, "Reputation," needed only four days to top the Billboard charts as the best-seller of 2017. Though fans bought more than 1.2 million copies worldwide, critics lambasted the record for being full of gossip and bitterness toward her musical colleagues, whom the American singer and songwriter likes to confront in her songs.

The events that shaped culture in 2017

The saga continues

The eighth episode of the main Star Wars saga, "The Last Jedi," tells the story of the young scavenger Rey and her brave friends as their galaxy is being terrorized by a mysterious villain. The rebels decide to seek help from the last remaining Jedi, Luke Skywalker. With the global opening weekend box office totalling $450 million, it is the second most successful theatrical release of all times.